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Introducing The Veep Sheet

Speculation has swirled around when Mitt Romney will announce his VP pick. | AP Photo

By KATIE GLUECK | 7/19/12 11:28 AM EDT
Updated: 7/20/12 12:18 PM EDT

Welcome to the Veep Sheet, your guide to who’s up, who’s down and who’s out in Mitt Romney’s search for a vice presidential nominee. Tips and suggestions encouraged and appreciated: kglueck@politico.com.

Over the past few days, speculation swirled about when Romney would announce his pick, with some reports suggesting that could occur as soon as this week (a mysterious event in Concord, N.H. — now slated for Bow at the Coastal Forest Products Warehouse and Fishing Facility this Friday — had many reporters talking). As the weekend nears, though, that’s looking less likely.

In an interview with “Good Morning America,” Romney’s wife, Ann, said, “We’re not quite there yet. And we’re going to be there soon.” That clip came to light yesterday; here’s what else she said.

“It appears unlikely now that Mr. Romney will name his selection before departing next week for a trip abroad. Unveiling a vice-presidential pick before then would detract attention from a trip to the London Olympics that would allow Mr. Romney to showcase his success running the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, followed by a stop in Israel and perhaps elsewhere to show his grasp of foreign policy.

“One person familiar with the vetting process said Mr. Romney was likely to name his pick after he returns from abroad but weeks before the convention begins Aug. 27, because the campaign envisions Mr. Romney and his No. 2 touring the country together, in large part to raise money.”

“… 74 percent of registered voters said that a candidate’s VP choice matters a lot or somewhat. Twenty-six percent of registered voters said the choice matters a lot to their vote, while 48 percent said it matters somewhat. Twenty-five percent said it doesn’t matter at all.”

Reuters earlier this week reported that Romney’s shortlist looks to be former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Ohio Sen. Rob Portman and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal. Here’s a look at what they, and other top VP contenders, are up to — and what people are saying about them.

Tim Pawlenty:

“I’ll show you my tats” — That was the joking offer the ex-Minnesota governor made to Fox News’s Neil Cavuto yesterday when deflecting a question about perceived dullness. POLITICO’s Mackenzie Weinger sums it up:

“You have been whittled down to what I’m told is a shorter list, apparently because you’re considered, at least by the Romneys, we are told, sir, this could be wrong — safe, reliable, steady as she goes, nothing too flashy. Dare I say dull,” Cavuto said.

While Pawlenty told MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell Tuesday that he is focusing “on yardwork” right now, he’s still making the rounds of morning television shows. Pawlenty, the recent subject of an NYT profile, went to bat for Romney yesterday on the issue of disclosing tax returns — something the presumptive GOP nominee is under pressure to do — on CBS’s “This Morning.”

Condi Rice.............. pull her into a Romney Administration to address the biggest Civil Rights issue of our time.......the plight of the innocent children consigned to the poor failing schools in America's Deep Blue One Party cities...

If we are to end this horrible and unfair cylce of poverty our children need edcuated....................Adults step UP !

Republican leaders are calling on Mitt Romney to release his taxes. No one knows better that Romney is hiding something dirty than his own party. Wait for the backstabbing to begin sometime after the nominee gets selected. Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, not to mention Santorum are all waiting for Mitt to fail.

Lennie Pike: *Everybody* pays taxes!- Even businessmen, who rob and cheat and steal from people everyday, even *they* have to pay *taxes*!

Tax returns is just another "lets not talk about the economy" regardless of the GOP calling for it! He was vetted for VP in 2008 and 20 years of returns were reviewed and nothing there. Most members of congress also keep theirs secret. Just move on to more important revelant matters, the tax returns aren't going to change the fact that Oblamer is dropping in the polls like a rock.

Coming back to the economy: Mitt is GWBush II - more tax breaks for the wealthy, more defense spending, more deficits A distraction from the fact that Mitt and Ann Romney paid no taxes in 2009 and we're all supposed to forget that. Not gonna happen

Mitt and Ann Romney were OK with not paying taxes in 2009. They did not help support our troops in Afghanistan or Iraq.

Mitt wants people to vote for him but he will not act in a way that earns the trust of the voters.

Drop off the men that could have run for president this cycle and beat Mitt, Christie and Marco. Then drop the people that have turned him down publicly, Rice and Portman, then the woman that has her own problems Ayotte and who you have are the two people that might allow Mitt to pick them. Timid Pawlenty, he's not going anywhere politically anyway so might as well hook up with the man that insists on committing political suicide, or Jindall, who has maxed out his years as gov of La. Mitt probably didn't "select" his running mate this week because he's having a hard time convincing someone to do it. It would be pretty funny and telling if he ends up with some unknown politician from some insignificant state like McCain had to do in 2008.

Rob Portman would be great for the Democratic Party - think of the ads touing his connections to George W.'s failed economics and how Portman was in the thick of things - this would be a gift that keeps on giving!

Same with Condi Rice - but we all know that was never a serious possibility.

Rubio seems doubtful because of the 1956 vs. 1959 question.

Christie would overshadow Mitt too much - plus he is something of a verbal volcano. Better to keep him somewhat scripted with the Keynote Address.

Ayote is too inexperienced.

I guess that leaves boring Tim Pawlenty who got run out of the race last August by Michele Bachmann's trouncing of him in the Iowa Straw Poll.

Romney should'nt be taken hispanic votes for granted, he needs at least 30 or 35% of them to win and Rubio will deliver it and put florida in the red column, latinos will be proud to have one of them in the ticket even if he is not Mexican, he speaks their language (remember Jeb Bush campaining for his brother in spanish) it will be like when Obama was named the first black pres.Rubio will be the first latino in the ticket. Huge mistake to pick someone else.

Romney should'nt be taken hispanic votes for granted, he needs at least 30 or 35% of them to win and Rubio will deliver it and put florida in the red column, latinos will be proud to have one of them in the ticket even if he is not Mexican, he speaks their language (remember Jeb Bush campaining for his brother in spanish) it will be like when Obama was named the first black pres.Rubio will be the first latino in the ticket. Huge mistake to pick someone else.

Romney should'nt be taken hispanic votes for granted, he needs at least 30 or 35% of them to win and Rubio will deliver it and put florida in the red column, latinos will be proud to have one of them in the ticket even if he is not Mexican, he speaks their language (remember Jeb Bush campaining for his brother in spanish) it will be like when Obama was named the first black pres.Rubio will be the first latino in the ticket. Huge mistake to pick someone else.